There are 4 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-D] Long live the Lusty Duchess!
From: "Tree Deutscher" <treedr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [WEB] Now that was strange. [Blaze, open tag]
From: Theresa Kemerer <vampchick21@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
3. [DL-W] A time for living again
From: Morgan Allgood <elfwench@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
4. [DL-W] The Gaslight Effect
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 05:50:52 -0700
From: "Tree Deutscher" <treedr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-D] Long live the Lusty Duchess!
Day 99 Evening
<Snip>
Once she caught up to him, she saw him look at her from the corner of
his
eye. She smiled at him and asked with a grin. "Where are ya going?"
she
asked as sweetly as she could, knowing he would not be in the best of
moods.
<End>
Lexi slowed his pace glancing down at the slender brunette. A sardonic
grin came to the large man's face. "Well Squirt, I plan on getting
drunk! You game?
Akety's eyes widened. "Ummm..."
"Aw hell Little One, I'll buy ya an ale! You been working hard, you
deserve it!" He exclaimed droping his arm around her shoulders to
steer Akety in the direction of the Lusty Duchess. Actually, he was
planning on drinking himself under the table if possible. This crap
with Sharees dogging him every chance she got was really getting to
him. In the mood he was in he really didn't want company, but Akety
was a cute kid and having her around just might cheer him up some.
"But.."
"No problem darlin', it's my treat!" Lexi replied firmly giving her no
chance to retreat.
[..] Later
"Wow Lexi," Akety exclaimed softly gazing up in wonder at the
precarious tower of tankards setting on the table, "I didn't know a
person could consume that much ale at one sitting?"
The smithy laughed heartily waving at the serving girl, "Heya
gorgeous, brin 'nother romd woman!" The barmaid grinned, this was just
too perfect. She'd waited a long time for the blacksmith to come in at
the end of her shift and he was just drunk enough not to care where he
ended up for the night. She'd heard about the big fight and knew he
was ripe for the taking. It was the Leathersrafter's loss for letting
such a handsome hunk run loose. A smug smile lit up Leela's face and
her gaze traveled to the female at the table her blue eyes narrowing
in speculation. It was just a matter of getting rid of the mousy
brunette.
"You know Lexi, maybe you've had enough?" Akety asked hesitantly.
The muscular rider chuckled in amusement, his speech definitely
slurred, "Hardel-ly, I's jus' gettin' started!" Waving his arm at the
server the big man grinned boyishly at Akety, "The nite's still young
kiddo!" Leaning towards her he almost fell off the chair, "You know
girl, you need a man's drink, stead of that girlie junk you been
sippin' on!" Awkwardly straightening himself Lexi's eyes rolled and he
blinked rapidly trying to clear his head somewhat. It didn't work.
"HEY Wench! Where's our..ohhhh yeahhhh!" Lexi quipped in a deep voice,
as a rather voluptuous chest appeared in his line of vision.
"It's right here Handsome!" Leela giggled seductively making sure that
the blacksmith had an eyeful of what she was offering. Placing her arm
sensuously on his shoulder for balance the shapely blonde leaned
across him making sure to rub her breasts across his shoulder as she
did set the drinks down.
Lexi's eyes crossed at the creamy mounds hanging suspended only inches
from his nose. Definitely a cleavage a man could drown in
A faint strangled sound came from Akety and she purposely leaned for
her drink forcing the woman to back up a bit. "Thank you!" She said
shortly, "We'll call you if we need anything else."
Leela smiled knowingly, "Honey, you're way out of your league! Little
girls like you should be home in bed!"
So mesmerized by the view Lexi was oblivious to the curt exchange
between the two women. The heady scent of Leela's perfume had his head
reeling and he unconsciously leaned forward his face following the
lush bounty that was barely covered by the low cut blouse.
Akety's eyes narrowed at the open snub, snapping up her mug she bumped
Lexi's makeshift tower of empty tankards. The pewter glasses teetered
for a moment and before she could call a warning they came tumbling
down slamming into the fresh one the server had just set in front of
her fellow rider.
Lexi wasn't sure how it happened but a large tankard of ale suddenly
landed in his lap sending blinding pain through him. Jumping to rise
he lost his balance and fell to the floor groaning in pain.
"Lexi! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" Akety exclaimed moving
to bend over the blacksmith.
Curling up he barely moaned a nod before Leela was wiping him off with
a towel. "You did that on purpose!" She hissed quietly to the female
rider.
Akety gazed at the barmaid with widened eyes then suddenly a feline
grin spread across her face as she gazed at the server. "C'mon Lexi!
It's time to call it a night!"
"Doesh it require walkin'?" he croaked hoarsely, protectively holding
his groin.
Surprisingly strong for her size Akety managed with very little help
from the other woman to get the big man to his feet and headed for the
door.
[..] a few minutes later outside
"You sure you're ok? You don't look ok?" Akety asked softly, looking a
bit worried. "I really didn't mean to do that Lexi, I am so sorry!
It's just she....well....you know! It really was an accident!" The
brunette blurted out looking quite contrite.
Sitting on the stump Lexi took several deep breaths trying to get his
brain to stop doing laps in his skull. It was a damn good thing he
wasn't planning on kids because he sure wasn't going to be making any
in the immediate future. Groaning he pressed his legs together then
taking a long deep breath he exhaled slowly, the tidal wave of pain
rolling through his crotch finally started to subside. "Surshhh no
problum, Squirt!"
[..] a little later
After a fashion Lexi's grin returned and he waggled his finger at the
young woman, "Well sugar, I think we need snother drink! Doan't shou?"
Rising he almost fell into Akety and she emitted a soft grunt trying
to hold the mountain of a manup as he started to weave back towards
the tavern, dragging her with him. "B'sides I wanna getta better look
at those..." Despite being drunk he was still incredibly strong and
she was having a time trying to get him to go the opposite direction.
Off balance Lexi was almost jerked off his feet when Akety yanked hard
on his arm. "I think you've seen enough for one night!" She said
firmly pulling him away from the Lusty Duchess.
"Awww, you're not fun!" Lexi pouted with a chuckle and the chuckle
grew until his whole body shook with laughter but he no longer fought
her. Suddenly he stopped dead his body swaying back and forth. "Oh
Oh!"
"Oh Oh What!" Akety asked in alarm checking him all over, then looking
around for possible danger. "What's wrong?"
A huge grin spread across the roquish face, "Gotta pee!"
"WHAT?" The brunette gaped at him incredulously.
"I gotta pee, ya wanna hold it for me?" He snickered eyeing her with a
lecherous grin.
'WHAT?" Akety's eyes widened in disbelief, then pressing her lips
together indignantly added, "No, I most certainly don't!"
Azure eyes twinkled mischievously as the blacksmith reached for his
pants. With her cheeks flaming Akety quickly grabbed Lexi much to his
amusement and shoved him towards some nearby bushes, his uproarious
giggles filling the night. Hurrying a short distance away she turned
her back on him to stand watch for anyone approaching. After a moment
or two, she whispered. "Lexi, would you hurry up!"
"Is there a problem..." sounded a voice from the darkness. "..anything
we can do to help?" came a like voice as Alton and Alden appeared.
Hearing the voices Lexi returned weaving haphazardly towards his
companion. Peering into the shadows cast by the torches on the
building, his mouth fell open and he blinked hard shaking his head to
get his eyes to focus. Damn, he was drunker then he thought, now he
was starting to see double.
"Oh no problem! I'm just..." Akety started to say but was cut off by
the man who suddenly appeared behind her.
"Awww we're jus' fine!" The smithy quipped jovially, "Gonna have
another drink, wanna come?"
"Oh no we're not!" Akety squeaked firmly. "We're just going home." She
said to the twins, trying to get Lexi aimed in the right direction.The
redheads looked from the man to the woman their brows raising
quizzically. "No, I.I.. I mean I'm taking him home!" She stammered,
her embarrassment evident as she tried to explain, "No, I.I'm just
taking him home! The twins gazed at Akety's discomfort and Alton's
face split into a grin. "No..no.to his home of course! I mean I'm
leaving him there!" She amended motioning towards the cliff face.
All three males were grinning now, "Oh never mind!" She retorted
sharply grabbing the large rider by the arm. Lexi's head whirled as he
was spun around and shoved forward. Before he could say anything the
leather crafter stepped out of the shadows.
"You're drunk!" Sharees exclaimed, glaring at Lexi then at Akety.
Raising himself up to his full height Lexi wrapped his arm around the
little brunette protectively, yet more to keep his balance then
anything. "Tell me somethin' I don't know Missy Wing Second!"
Sharees mouth dropped open in surprise and anger. "Why you pompous
ass!"
"An jer point is?" Lexi snorted trying to hold back a burp.
"Um." Akety mumbled with a look that said she would like to be
anywhere but where she was.
Flipping his wrist at the raven haired woman, "Lisshen ladee, why doan
you go.. shoo! Me an my li'l pard here was havin' fun!"
"Shoo!!!" Sharees exclaimed her eyes blazing.
A searing heat infused the blacksmith his eyes glazing over in a wave
of lust and the night air vibrated with the sound of roaring dragons
as one of the warren female's rose to mate.
{Tag: Katie and Arle - You girls up for a little fun? :D}
Respectfully submitted by.
Tree Deutscher
AKA
Lexi
Daere Warren
***Summary***
Day 99 Lexi and Akety go to the Lusty Duchess and Lexi gets drunk.
Akety 'saves' Lexi from himself and tries to get him home in one piece
but they run into Alden, Alton and Sharees
[This message contained attachments]
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 13:43:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: Theresa Kemerer <vampchick21@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [WEB] Now that was strange. [Blaze, open tag]
Scene: April 21, early evening
Placing the telephone receiver back on the cradle, Blaze left her hand
on it, staring at it almost blankly. Marco had sounded slightly
different this time. Not so much his voice...but the language he was
using. But she just couldn't quite put her finger on the difference,
other than the fact that he used a few words she'd never heard come
out
of his mouth before.
Shaking it off, Blaze released the phone. Not worth mulling over.
He'd likely been watching some program and picked up some new
vocabulary. All to the good. Sometimes what came out of his mouth
made her cringe.
She had business to attend to. Dismissing her boytoy from her mind,
Blaze firmly put her mind onto work and left the living room to dress
for a business dinner.
<one hour later>
"Good evening ma'm." The hostess smiled blankly at the beautiful
blonde woman, eyes glancing down at the reservations list. "Name?"
"Blaze Winthrop, table for two." Tapping a deep red fingernail
against
the tooled leather of her purse, Blaze let her blue eyes travel beyond
the young woman into the dining room beyond. She didn't see Franklin
Zoltri, but that wasn't unusual. The man was always notoriously late.
And she was always notoriously prompt where business was concerned.
"Ah yes. If you'll follow me please Ms. Winthrop."
Blaze followed the hostess to her well appointed table, seating
herself
and accepting the wine menu, perusing it while tapping her finger on
the table gently, slightly impatiently.
<tag anyone out for dinner?>
=====
http://vampchick212.blogspot.com/
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/toronto_vampires/
*************************************************************
Jack Sparrow: No! Not good! Stop! Not good! What are you doing? You've
burned all the food, the shade, the RUM!
Elizabeth Swann: Yes, the rum is gone.
Jack Sparrow: Why is the rum gone?
Elizabeth Swann: One, because it is a vile drink that turns even the
most respectable men into complete scoundrels. Two, that signal is
over a thousand feet high. The entire royal navy is out looking for
me; do you really think that there is EVEN the slightest chance that
they won't see it?
Jack Sparrow: But why is the rum gone?
*************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 23:23:37 -0500
From: Morgan Allgood <elfwench@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] A time for living again
The large man was in the middle of stretching and moving as if in a
slow
motion battle when Xanthia arrived. His back was to her as he
continued his
exercise routine.
She straightened her back and attempted to stand tall and
proud."Dru..."
Xanthia began. Her voice quivered and came out much softer than she
intended. She waited for a moment but the large man did not appear to
hear
her. Perhaps that was a blessing, she thought as she tried again to
mask
her heartache.
The redhead cleared her throat and spoke again, this time slightly
louder.
"Dru'Kar?"
Dru'Kar lowered his arms and turned about to face his visitors. He
looked
at her face and saw how lost the young priestess was. He walked toward
the
pair, and reached out and stroked Xanthia's face gently, noting her
red
rimmed eyes and her attempt to stand tall and proud regardless of her
loss,
as a true child of the warrior clan would.
"Yashina..." he said sympathetically.
Xanthia attempted to smile, "Oberon is excited that Merissa gave her
permission for him to be a Bear Nomad."
Dru'Kar nodded. He, too, was glad that was resolved at last and all
was as
it should be.
"And you, Yashina?" Dru'Kar asked simply.
"I'm glad for him, too. It's as it should be."
"But you are sad still."
"It was all an illusion, a lie..." Xanthia began, her lip trembling.
"A lie
I told myself, which is the worst kind."
"What was?" Dru'Kar guided the teary priestess to the sofa and eased
her
down into it, taking a seat beside her and lifting Alina to his large
lap.
"Th'rin. He doesn't love me. Well, he loves me, but as his best
friend, not
as his mate. Merissa is his mate. It will always be Merissa."
"He told you this?" Dru'Kar asked.
Xanthia nodded. "But, I'm not angry," she said honestly, "Well, I was,
at
first. But now I realize he was just being honest. I asked for
honesty, and
I got it. Somehow, I thought it was more.... More than just my being
the
mother of his child, or Oberon's aunt, or his best friend. I thought
he was
like me, that his heart was big enough to be in love with more than
one
person. But he's not."
"Now I know why I lost the baby, Dru'Kar. It wasn't meant to be. None
of
it. He never intended for me to get pregnant with Alina, and in fact
didn't
even know anything about it until I came back from the hospital and
was
nearly due. And now that I think on it, he probably had me move in out
of
obligation."
"But, now that I know I need to decide what to do? Do I continue
living
there and make the best of it? And if I do move out of the apartment,
what
then? Alina's my child and always will be, but I can't just leave
Oberon
either, I love him as if I were his mother."
She paused and wiped a tear from her eye, her eyes filled with
desperate
sorrow, "Where do I go from here?"
"Yashina," he intoned her name softly as he stroked the hair off her
face,
"The loss is still fresh for both of you. Give yourself some time
before
making any decisions." He shook his head sadly, "Sometimes people say
what
they don't mean when in pain."
"Maybe so..." Xanthia conceded, though she still felt deep in her
heart
that Th'rin spoke truthfully. She shivered and subconsciously rubbed
her
arms where Th'rin had grabbed them the night before. "He... he wasn't
the
same."
***
*Day 12 - early morning*
The day before had been fairly uneventful. In fact, it seemed to her
that
she was being avoided or ignored. She wasn't surrounded by people as
Merissa was. But then, she wasn't important in the warren, she
reminded
herself. The only people she seemed to hold any importance to at all
were
Dru'Kar, Alina, and Oberon: her tribe, her family; if not bonded by
blood
then by spirit.
Oh, it wasn't that they didn't have legitimate reasons. She knew well
that
Th'rin was busy at the med center due to her convalescence, not that
she
expected him to spend any time with her in light of his true feelings.
Merissa, she had a warren to run and preparations for the prince's
arrival.
Ari, she knew was busy with her wild dragons and she knew if there was
any
way possible Ari would have been there to check on her.
But, she consoled herself, that didn't mean they didn't care. They
were
just busy. And they probably just wanted to let her have time to heal.
Yes,
Xanthia decided. That must be it. They were trying to give her time to
heal.
Nevertheless, Xanthia was tired of the walls of the two apartments,
she
longed to be outside and feel the air in her hair, the sun warming her
skin, and be around people. It was time to get back to the business of
living.
She pulled on her clothes, brushed her hair back into a ponytail and
dressed Alina for the day, then the two wandered over to Dru'kar's
apartment.
***
Xanthia couldn't help but smile as she walked into the apartment and
saw
Oberon and the large man already sitting down to a hearty breakfast.
"Good morning, Yashina!" Dru'Kar greeted her. "You look like you are
feeling better." The latter was as much a statement as a question.
"Much." Xanthia nodded. "I've not yet been released to go back to
work, but
I want to get out today."
"Good," the Bear Nomad's eyes gleamed with approval.
Xanthia and Alina sat down and ate their breakfast, enjoying idle chit
chat
with Oberon about his school and classmates and Dru'Kar about his
training.
Soon the hatchlings would indeed be flying. Oberon roared in laughter
as
Dru'Kar and Xanthia recounted the tale of Ursa's first glide.
"So, Yashina." Dru'Kar "What are you wanting to do today?"
"Well, I want to go to my garden and work in it." She began, then took
Dru'Kar by the arm and led him aside so that they could talk privately
for
a moment. "But first, there's someplace I want... need," she corrected
herself, "to go."
***
*Morning, on the green*
"What are we doing here?" Oberon asked in confusion, having not heard
the
conversation earlier between Dru'Kar and his aunt.
"You remember what happened here?" Xanthia asked gently, a lump rising
in
her throat.
"Yes, this is where Dru'Kar and I had the pyre..." The last word
struck him
silent as he remembered that night.
Xanthia nodded, "You and Dru'Kar had the privilege to say your
goodbyes
that night and honor the babe. I did not." Xanthia knelt down beside
the
small spot of scorched earth, tears silently falling down her face.
With that Xanthia pulled a small vial out of her pocket. With her bare
hands she scooped up a small amount of the ash and carefully sifted
it
into the vial. When it was sufficiently full, she capped it and then
fastened a leather cord about the neck of the tiny bottle, which she
then
tied about her neck so that it hung close to her heart.
After a few moments of silent contemplation Xanthia stood up, dusted
off
her hands and stood proud despite her loss. She looked into the eyes
of her
small tribe, awash with love for all of them and feeling grateful for
what
she had. If she could just hang on to that, focus on what she had
instead
of what she lost or may be losing, she was sure she would be all
right.
Xanthia looked first to Dru'Kar, and saw the approval shining in his
eyes
as he understood exactly what she'd done and why. This was the Bear
Nomad
way, and it came to the young priestess so naturally.
She looked then to Oberon and saw the unasked question in his young
face.
"I wanted not just to say goodbye," she explained, "But to be always
able
to carry a piece of that small life by my heart. What is remembered,
lives."
<<NRPG: Open tag, anyone in the area who sees or hears this, feel free
to
interact or react.>>
***
*Afternoon - Xanthia's Garden*
Dru'Kar was done with training for the day, and Oberon had just gotten
out
of school so all four Bear Nomads were gathered in the garden so
Dru'Kar
could teach them of Bear Nomad ways while Xanthia continued to work
the
earth as she had since lunch time.
"And this is Xanthia's garden!" Gob's voice chimed from somewhere
behind
Xanthia.
She looked over her shoulder and saw he was accompanied by a strange
rider.
"You mean Trinale's garden?" the man replied.
"Xanthia's the one tending the garden now. That's her there, she's a
healer
and a Bear Nomad Priestess. And that is Dru'Kar and Oberon, and
Alina."
Xanthia stood up and dusted off her hands before offering one to the
stranger, "Hello, I see Gob's giving the grand tour again?"
The man shook her hand uncertainly, "Yes, I'm Ash'chenon... Ash if you
prefer. You have a beautiful family."
"Oh," Xanthia blushed, "Um... Thank you." She wrestled for a minute as
to
whether to explain the situation or not. "But we aren't... involved.
Alina's Th'rin's daughter. And while Oberon is my nephew, And Dru'Kar
is
his Guardian, and all three of us are Bear Nomads, Th'rin and Merissa
are
Oberon's foster parents.
Ash quirked an eyebrow.
"It's... complicated," Xanthia offered in final explanation.
"You don't dress like a Bear Nomad, though he does," Ash'chenon said,
offering a hand in greeting to the large man in the loin cloth.
"Yashina wasn't raised by the Tribe and Clan," Dru'Kar replied.
"Yashina?" Ash asked. "I thought your name was Xanthia."
"It is. Both are. Yashina's my tribal name, Xanthia's my given name."
"Let me guess," the man said, "It's complicated."
"Yes," Xanthia smiled wanly, "Very."
"I thought the Bear Nomads were wiped out?" Ash'chenon asked.
"Very nearly so. The four of us are all that are left." Dru'Kar
explained.
"Soon there will be five!" Gob added, then noted the vial which hung
as a
pendant from Xanthia's neck. "What's that."
Xanthia's eyes suddenly turned sad again. "No, Gob," she answered
softly,
"there won't."
"You lost the baby?"
Xanthia nodded in answer to the boy's question. "But this vial you
asked
about contains the baby's ashes, so I can carry them close to my heart
the
rest of my life."
"What is remembered, lives!" Oberon added.
<<TAG Eddie and Allen! And anyone else in the area.>>
***
*Early Evening*
Xanthia came out of the bath, unashamed as she toweled dry her hair
with
another towel wrapped about her, and walked over to the Guardian's
apartment through the portal between the two. Her eyes gleamed with
excitement that she hadn't felt in the past few days.
"Dru'Kar!" Xanthia exlaimed, "The prince is here! Two days early!
There's
an impromptu dinner for him tonight... The banquet and ball will still
be
in a couple days."
She hesitated, knowing it would be awkward. "Oberon will be there with
Merissa and Th'rin. Should we go?"
"I think it would be good for you to be around people." Dru'Kar
replied.
Xanthia nodded and started heading into the other apartment, "I'll
have to
see what I have that would look nice."
***
Xanthia emerged a little later in a dress of deep violet that
contrasted
beautifully with her titian hair and complimented her ice blue eyes,
carrying her hair brush in her hand, her hair hanging loosely down her
back. She looked at Dru'Kar with a measure of both pride and sadness
as she
did a turn. to show off the dress.
"It fits again. It's not fancy, just an every day dress. But I like
the
color, and it's soft."
"You look beautiful. Come, sit down" he gestured to the chair by the
dining
table and sat her down. then took the brush from her hand and began
brushing her hair and arranging it in an elegant braided style.
He stood back and admired his work, then went and produced her circlet
from
it's box and set it gently upon her brow.
"There," he smiled in approval. He assisted her up and guided her over
to
the mirror on the wall, "Perfect."
Xanthia blushed at the compliment.
***
*Dinner*
Xanthia entered the dining hall accompanied by Dru'Kar. Dru'Kar wore
his
normal garb, loincloth and a bearskin cloak. He carried the small
child
Alina in his arms
The small healer and priestess looked about uncertainly until she saw
Merissa gesture for her to approach.
Xanthia wrapped her small hand around Dru'Kar's large middle and index
fingers and took a deep breath before approaching, her stomach filled
with
butterflies. Those butterflies turned into bats when she saw that
Th'rin
stand up as well as the prince when they approached.
"Xanthia, Dru'Kar," Merissa greeted.
"Merissa, Th'rin," Xanthia greeted in kind.
"Prince Reolden, have you met Princess Yashina of the Bear Nomads?"
Merissa asked.
The prince took Xanthia's hand in greeting, "I can't say I've had the
pleasure. I wasn't aware there was another princess at WhiteRiver?"
"Yashina, is the daughter of Chieftain Yerel of the Bear Nomads,"
Dru'Kar
explained proudly, "And priestess of the Bear Nomad tribe."
"A princess and a priestess?" the prince replied.
Xanthia smiled, "But here at the warren I'm also healer and rider of
Maxima. Most call me Xanthia, but Yashina is my real name."
"Come join us at the table." Merissa invited.
"I'm not sure..." Xanthia said. Was it her place now to join them as
family, even though Th'rin had no real feelings for her? She glanced
between Th'rin and Merissa and suddenly realized that Merissa didn't
know!
"Sure. We'd be honored."
Xanthia embraced Merissa affectionately. As she did she whispered in
her
ear, "Later, could we have tea and talk, like we used to?"
<<TAG Arlene and Keeper!>>
_________________
SUMMARY
Day 11: Early Morning
Xanthia arrives at Dru'Kar's and tries to act proud despite her
conversation the night before with Th'rin. She tells him of Th'rin's
true
feelings and shares her heartbreak with him. He encourages her to give
herself time before making any decisions.
Day 12: Early Morning
Xanthia decides she's had enough of the apartments and wants out
before she
goes stir crazy. She misses contact with people. She breakfasts on
Dru'Kar's side, where Oberon has already joined the large man for
breakfast.
Day 12: Morning
Xanthia, accompanied by Dru'Kar and the children, visits the site of
her
lost baby's pyre so she can say goodbye. She scoops up some of the ash
and
places in a vial which she hangs about her neck.
Day 12: Afternoon
Xanthia and Alina are joined by Oberon and Dru'Kar in the garden where
Dru'Kar teaches then Bear Nomad things while Xanthia tends the plants.
They
encounter Ash'chenon and Gob as Gob shows the new rider around, and
introductions and awkward explanations are made. Xanthia tells Gob of
her
loss of the baby.
Day 12: Early Evening
Xanthia is excited to hear of the prince's early arrival. She dresses
in
deep violet and Dru'Kar helps her with her hair and her circlet.
Day 12: Dinner
Dru'Kar and Xanthia and Alina join Merissa, Th'rin, and Prince Reolden
at
their table. Introductions are made. Xanthia whispers in Merissa's ear
and
asks for time spent together so they can talk over tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Respectfully Submitted by:
Morgan Allgood
AKA
Xanthia and Maxima, Oberon, et al
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Amazon.com Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/o/registry/AT4JWDUFRAML
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 01:29:40 -0700
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] The Gaslight Effect
Day 12
Early Evening.
Mahti slung his lute across his back as he slid down off the dragon.
He had been honored that Prince Reolden had considered him a good
enough friend to invite him along on Trendal. A few other dragons had
been drafted from Keldarra for the transport of the rest of the
entourage, but they would be returning after a brief visit with the
WhiteRiver dragons.
He anxiously watched those approaching them for a glimpse of the woman
who had stolen his heart. His heart stopped when he saw her, but she
appeared not to notice him. No, wait. Did she glance his way?
Eleanora kept her attention firmly riveted on Ari. Her friend had
chosen - to El's frustration with how bad it was for her - to shoulder
her problems herself and not SAY anything to anyone, but still it was
easy enough to see just how nervous she was over this meeting.
Eleanora trusted that Reolden would understand and go slowly, but
still she wanted to watch out for her friend.
Besides, she really didn't want to have to deal with the bard lurking
behind the Prince.
She wanted to forget the night they'd shared. Ok, that was untrue.
She'd rather actually be ABLE to remember it, but she'd like to ignore
that she could have acted so...so..
<Sensually?> Cara suggested dryly. <It felt wonderful. You humans
make it so ...silly.>
Still watching Ari carefully - and gracefully, not that that surprised
El in the slightest - curtsey to the Prince, the courier choked
slightly at Cara's reaction.
His heart soared and plummeted. She had looked his way, he was sure!
His heartbeat drummed in his ears as he edged his way closer to the
object of his desire. Was she choking? He hurried to her side,
patting her on the back.
Eleanora flinched at the sudden touch on her back - and the
unmistakable heat it generated - and started to cough for real. With
a hasty glance of apology to all and sundry - ok, all and royal anyway
- she darted to a small alcove around the corner where she could
regain her breath without alarming the Prince or Merissa by the purple
of her face.
Mahti followed, wondering if he should be distressed by her reaction,
or was this an invitation to be alone? He could only hope it was the
latter. He hurried after her and slipped in beside her into the small
dark nook. Ah, the perfect rendezvous place. He smiled a knowing
grin and reached to embrace her.
Having just settled her breath, Eleanora was surprised and gave vent
to a soft shriek as she tried, vainly, to step back. Catching her
breath was a lost hope now, a dry logical voice in the back of her
mind noted. Every cell within her was alive - and disturbingly,
Mahti's nearness was bringing back little flicks of memory.
Memories that were either altogether inappropriate...or altogether TOO
appropriate for this dark nook out on the Green.
Well, that dry voice commented, at least now you can be positive he
was serious when he wrote that note.
"Mahti," she finally managed to say, her voice breathless and shaking.
"Uh...so, um, how have you been?"
It was too dark to see faces, and Mahti realized that the answer he
was giving her would be impossible for her to comprehend as she
couldn't read his lips. But his lips could make his intentions known
in another way, so he leaned in and pressed them against her own and
murmured, "I've been wasting away, longing for this moment, when I
could hold you in my arms again."
About to protest that she couldn't possibly understand what he said,
as she felt his breath wash across her face, the words were stolen
from her by the press of his lips against hers. Memory, hot and
bittersweet, rushed over her - along with its companion, desire.
Instinctively her hands reached out. Sliding upwards along his chest,
she started to lean forward, to taste more of him when memory caught
up with the morning after.
Cheeks flaming, she pushed him firmly back. "Mahti, no," she
protested softly. "I...I'm not drunk." She winced, as she realized
how that sounded and shook her head. "No, um, let me rephrase that.
I... uh... " She flailed, desperate and embarrassed, her hands rising
to half-form words before dropping dejectedly. With the sense of
grasping at straws, she hit upon SOMETHING to say. "Have you seen
Trinale's garden?"
She could feel him shake his head, no, and she took his hand in hers
and made a dash across the green toward the beckoning pools of soft
yellow light that was cast by the flickering gas lamps.
Breathlessly they raced, a chuckle escaping from Mahti, as he glanced
back seeing everyone else going in the opposite direction. When they
reached the gardens, Eleanora pulled him along a small path to another
pool of warm, yellow light. There she turned to face him. He looked
down at her, expectantly, a sly smile on his lips, his eyes sparkling
with anticipation.
Eleanora opened her mouth to speak then slowly shut it again. She had
to get things straight with Mahti, that much was clear, but...what was
"straight" again? The twinkle of his dark eyes in the unsteady light
of the lamps was distracting, enticing...and memory provoking. Her
cheeks flamed anew as she realized she *did* remember a great deal
more of her drunken night with the bard than she had thought.
You are sober, she reminded herself. And a respectable member of
Warren society. And mature...
<And fooling no one.>
Clenching her jaw slightly, El managed to find words that would
lighten the mood. She hoped.
"Oh, I understand I am to congratulate you on your Mastery. Very well
done."
That surprised him. He wasn't sure what he had expected her to say,
but that wasn't it. Though, the thought of the song that had garnered
him that prized parchment was owed all to her. "Why, thank you! I
will be performing it at the banquet, at the Prince's request. I hope
it will... Ah, but I do not wish to ruin the surprise!"
Pleased to feel the ground firm beneath her as she felt it hadn't been
practically since Trendal landed, Eleanora smiled. "But Mahti, I
won't hear the song then. Do I have to wait? If I promise not to
tell...?"
"Ah, dear, yes. Hadn't thought of that, but I so don't want to spoil
it. How close will you be seated when I am performing? Is it very
difficult to read lips from a distance?"
Eleanora waggled her hand back and forth in a universal gesture of
ambiguity. "Depends. It's not the distance so much as the singing.
You don't form words the same way when you sing as when you speak, you
see." She blushed slightly at her word choice knowing that of course
he DIDN'T see. "I can try, I suppose." Her quiet shy smile stole
back across her face. "I do need to sit with Ari - she's nervous
enough about all this. But I expect Reolden will want her sitting up
front...or next to him, one or the other....if she accepts that,
anyway."
Mahti imagined singing a line and saying it and realized that what
Eleanora said was quite true. You did form your words quite
differently when singing them, accentuating the vowels and cutting off
the consonants. "Ari? Oh, the Lady Arideregh? The banquet is in her
honor, so I can't imagine her sitting among the... rabble." Then he
brightened, "But perhaps I can bestow upon you a parchment, yes, that
is what I shall do. I shall write the words for you, so you may have
them to follow if you cannot follow the words formed by my lips."
"Rabble?" Eleanora queried gently. "A bard should choose his words
with more care," she murmured. "As a rider, Ari is as rabble as I
am." Her eyes crossed for a moment, unsure if that sentence had gone
where she'd intended, but then she shrugged.
"I will accept the parchment," she declared with a regal tone, spoiled
almost immediately by a soft giggle. "Put the key signature on it,
too," she murmured. "I can see how much I remember."
"You honor me, and I hope that my song will spark your memories and
fill your soul with joy!" He raptured, "As my heart has been set
afire from within, at the very thoughts I so inadequately tried to
express."
Eleanora blinked a moment, trying to parse the romantic hyperbole.
His song? Spark her memories? What on earth could he be talking about?
She smiled more tentatively, hoping she wasn't getting things wrong.
"I'm sure it's more than adequate, Mahti," she soothed. "Cyrano is
neither an idiot nor a soft-touch. If he thinks the song merits a
mastery, you can be certain it does."
He smiled, a glittering, mischievous smile, "I hope to have many more
such songs." As the warren was slowly clothed in the grays of
twilight and the stars began to appear in the sky, the lamplight
enclosed them within its own protective circle. He could think of
nothing more warranting of a song than this moment, and he took note
of all the details so that he could later recall them from memory.
"The garden is most beautiful, but not more beautiful than this
precious flower that I find here before me." He still held her hand,
and he brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of it, and then,
slowly kissing her fingers.
There was no stopping the indrawn breath as the velvet softness of his
lips brushed against the warm skin at the back of her hand. His words
were...well, flowery but then he was a bard...and she was sure Leo
used the same sort of line in his time. The question was...what was
she going to do?
No mistaking Mahti's intentions, HERS were a different story
altogether. Her body, quite clearly, had gone over to the enemy. Her
mind...? Her mind was waffling fearsomely. All her upbringing - in
particular the careful watchfulness of father and brother - insisted
that she must NOT play the wanton here. The warren....well, it
suggested otherwise. And the memories of a sizable quantity of
Dragonberry Wine .....were considerably distracting with the proof
that maybe she mustn't, but clearly she COULD.
Trembling even at the light touch, she stood still and wrestled with
her conscience.
His lips, meanwhile, had strayed slowly from her fingers, inching up
her arm, as he took a step closer. His free hand gently caressed her
opposite shoulder and he could feel her trembling at his touch. When
his lips had reached the edge of her short-sleeved blouse, he raised
his dark, glittering eyes to stare up deeply into her own. His eyes,
so much like those of a small puppy, begged for her permission, as his
longing to capture her in his arms increased. "I have dreamed of this
moment since I knew that I would be accompanying the Prince, and even
before I knew that I would be seeing you here, I dreamed of a moment
such as this, where I could behold you, be close to you."
What was he SAYING? People didn't really talk - or think - like that,
she insisted silently. The wash of breath fluttering her shirt sleeve
and his eyes - OH, those eyes - weren't helping the trembling though.
She struggled for breath, for words. "Mahti, I....."
She struggled for just the right word.
She didn't find it.
"Wait, dreaming of this? It was ONE night, a year ago... followed by
the single most embarrassing morning of BOTH our lives."
He stiffened and pulled back in surprise, "Was that... all... it was
to you?" He looked pained. "It was one of the most... meaningful
moments of my life! If it hadn't been for you, and Merissa and her
dragon, I would never have become the Prince's Bard!"
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. "What? Having the Prince stride in
naked and armed to defend.. you got..." Her voice trailed off as the
suggestion worked its way through in her head. She shook her head.
"No, that doesn't make sense. Um.. ok, maybe you don't have older
brothers ...or maybe they only treat little sisters like that or..."
She cleared her throat and gestured to a nearby bench. "Maybe we
should start at the beginning."
"Well, yes. I owed him! He saved my life! So I wrote this song, in
gratitude, you see... about that... umm... night... and he... Prince
Reolden... he enjoyed the song and asked me to perform others that I
had written or that I knew, and so, I became *his* bard! And I owe it
all to you!"
"Saved your life?" Eleanora made an unladylike snorting sound. "Leo
wouldn't actually KILL anyone." After a beat, she conceded, "Ok it
would have HURT, guaranteed, but...." She shook her head again,
trying to follow the illogical conversation. "So you wrote a song,
thanking Reolden and he made you his bard, " she clarified. "Which is
undoubtedly based on your TALENT. Proves the Prince's good taste,
clearly, but why would it have to do with me?"
"I would never have met the Prince if it hadn't been for... that most
magical night! If Chrysthal had not chosen that time to rise, and if
you had not been there to aide your friend, and I the happy recipient
of your affections for the night, I would be a pauper still, another
bard in a thousand. But you were my muse, you were the fates! You
smiled upon me and set me on the path to my destiny!"
A short puff of laughter escaped Eleanora's lips and she smiled
bemusedly. "Mahti, you're crediting your success to my getting drunk
and...." She trailed off and felt herself flush scarlet once more.
With a struggle, she managed to keep talking, though the heat refused
to leave her cheeks. "It's your talent, Mahti, can't you see that?
Hell, Leo's a bard too and HE was there." She felt her cheeks redden
further, but pushed onward. "And he's not a master, nor the Prince's
favorite. You see?" As her embarrassment reached hitherto unheard-of
levels, she dropped her eyes, but managed a murmured. "You sell
yourself short in this. Don't."
"Ah, as modest as she is beautiful," Mahti smiled. "I am not under
any delusion as to my talents, for I know that I have been given a
gift, yet, talent without inspiration is wasted. You were the one who
brought me to life. You are always in my thoughts and when I sing of
love, it is to you whom I imagine I am pouring forth my heart. For
you are the owner of it, Eleanora. Even your name, Eleanora! It
flows as with music from my lips."
Clear hazel eyes went wide and Eleanora was supremely grateful that
the bench was where it was as she sank down. Her mouth opened and
closed several times, but no coherent sound came out. She raised her
hands to her - surely charred from the sustained heat - cheeks and
swallowed hard. "I....you...but...but," she dithered. "I..I don't
know what to say, Mahti, I ... uh..."
Briefly shutting him out, she closed her eyes and rubbed her face HARD
with both hands. Maybe blood circulation would help her think. A
declaration like that...? Gods, Ben had loved her, she'd never
questioned that, but the idea of him saying.... and HER? Why would a
BARD want her? She could never truly appreciate his work, never hear
the beauty he could create, be forever left out of the center of his
life. Feeling obscurely guilty and utterly confused, her frustration
boiled over and she ran her hands through her hair.
Forgetting for the second time in less than an hour that that gesture
did NOT mix with her braids. Her fingers caught and tangled in the
already askew tresses and she muttered a vile curse she'd picked up
from Barsel. Keeping her eyes, and her burning cheeks, averted from
Mahti while she STILL tried to figure out a response, she began
plucking out hairpins and unwinding the length of tawny hair.
Mahti's heart began to beat rapidly as she let her tresses flow and he
sank to his knees before her, his eyes riveted upon her. "Yes, let it
flow freely! It is even more beautiful than I remember." He let his
hand reach out to assist her in releasing her hair from the tight
braids as he ran his fingers through them, loosening the hair into
ringlets.
A vision of waking up, her hair trailing every which way rose unbidden
before her eyes....along with an entirely unnecessary vision of the
hair coming loose beforehand. His words were...excessive and
grandiose, but she began to suspect (was that dared to hope) that the
emotion behind them were as sincere as a more plain-spoken
declaration. Unbidden, her hand fell from tucking a wayward strand
behind an ear to sift through his own dark mop.
"I remember you liked my hair falling about you when I was - " She
stopped abruptly, eyes wide and her face going pale instead of red
with the horror of speaking quite so bluntly.
"Ah, so you do remember. I was afraid for a moment that the memory
had been all of my own making and perhaps it was only a dream." The
smile that he gave her was one of delight and a bit more, as her words
had conjured a picture for him that brought a rush of heat to his
loins. He let his fingers follow the trail of a ringlet as it fell
past her shoulder and bobbed just above the soft curves under her
blouse.
She shivered slightly under the light tease of his touch and managed
an embarrassed smile. "Not as well as I would like," she responded
wistfully, then cursed and blushed again. "I mean...oh hell. You
have the most incredible knack for embarrassing me," she chided, her
tone half-teasing, half-accusatory.
"I assure you, from the moment I saw you, I never had any intentions
of embarrassing you! However," He smiled teasingly, "I had every
intention of embracing you."
This time her smile was more of a grin. "Liar," she scolded gently.
"Your eyes were all for Merissa and don't think either of us failed to
notice." Her grin slid sideways as she followed this with, "And your
thoughts were all of your show."
Shaking off the memories of her disastrous participation in the
performance, she let her smile creep upwards again. "Now, I WILL
grant that even when she tossed her shirt aside, you were a proper
gentleman. Very high marks for you, should your mother ask."
"My mother!" Mahti felt as if a cold towel had been thrown on him,
"Oh, please, do not mention my mother in the same breath as... well,
as what happened that evening." Then he laughed, "But, since you know
so well what I was doing, might I assume that your attentions were
focused on me for a reason?"
Eleanora's eyes sparked at Mahti's reaction to the mention of his
mother. Ha, she thought. Vengeance. He might not understand the
horror of a BROTHER catching you...but a MOTHER.
His question brought a sad twist to her smile and she answered with
simple honesty. "I always watch the bards."
"So, it was mere professional interest, then, and nothing more?"
Mahti raised his eyebrow, skeptically.
The sadness to her smile deepened briefly and she gestured towards her
ears. "Hardly professional," she murmured.
She caught the stirrings of an old self-pity and quickly choked them
down. She couldn't entirely banish the pain, but she managed a more
sincere smile. "Call it habit," she offered. "I didn't really notice
you as YOU," she continued with a dry laugh, "until you WERE such a
helpful gentleman when 'Riss and Reolden...." She trailed off with an
embarrassed chuckle.
"Well, I am thankful that at least you noticed me! I will accept what
small favors I have been granted. But if that is all the favor I have
found in your eyes, than I shall accept it with a heavy and sorrowful
heart, for truly I had hoped for more."
Eleanora raised an eyebrow. He sounded so exactly like Leo, when the
boy was trying to scam her - or worse their mother - into something.
Taking her mother's cue therefore on how to deal with THIS behavior,
she smiled slowly and murmured dryly. "I seem to recall you GOT
more."
Mahti, caught off guard by that, snorted and then began to laugh. He
rocked back on his heels as he laughed. He recovered but continued to
grin, "Ah, and that is the stuff my dreams are made of."
"What, being put in your place?" Eleanora countered with a grin.
Muscles she hadn't even realized were tense suddenly uncoiled and
relaxed with the ease of being here. "You must not have any sisters.
It's our job in life. Just ask Leo."
Her hand, as though it had a mind of its own, reached out to brush
dark hair out of the bard's face. His skin was soft and warm and made
her fingers tingle.
"No, I do not have the pleasure of knowing the joy of having a sister,
but I have certainly known a... ahhh... ummm." He grinned impishly,
"Friends, friends with sisters!"
The laughter burst out of her in a song of its own and bubbled its way
through her blood. That effervescence made it seem like the most
reasonable thing in the world to let her hand trail caressingly down
his cheek even as she leaned forward to rest her forehead against his.
The laughter trailed off in a contented sigh - though a wave of
giggles lurked within still.
His eyes closed and he rested there a moment, forehead to forehead,
his fingers twining her soft curls through them. It wasn't a
conscious thought that made him move forward just a bit, but as he
did, she leaned in just a bit, and for the briefest of moments their
lips met.
But the moment was brief only because a raspy voice cleared his throat
behind him, and Mahti sprung back, standing abruptly and turning about
to face the Prince's messenger, who was grinning, like a cat with a
trapped mouse.
The touch was electric and El shifted her weight ever so slightly in
preparation for leaning forward just a bit more when suddenly there
was empty air and not warm man in front of her. Her eyes popped upon,
searching for Mahti for explanation.
The grinning face of Cedric was sufficient. Without her ears, she
could hear his chuckle. She rose steadily to her feet, desperately
wrapping her dignity about her. She was the Warrenlady's courier, she
was the daughter and granddaughter of bards and dammit, he still owed
her from the last hand of whist! "Was there something?"
Mahti was looking apologetically at Eleanora and didn't see the
messenger's unvoiced comments, but he knew that all hope of regaining
what they had just experienced was gone, the moment shattered. Making
sure she was looking toward him, Mahti expressed his regret with his
eyes, as he murmured, "I should attend the Prince."
Eleanora nodded silently. She wasn't quite sure why she felt like
bursting into tears - or curses, either seemed a fine choice - but she
was sure if she spoke, the urge would win. A few moments peace in the
garden would set her right, she was sure and give her time to fix her
hair besides.
She watched Mahti walk away, trailing after the pompous messenger. He
paused at the bend in the path and glanced over his shoulder for one
brief moment, before vanishing into the darkness.
_______________________________
Submitted by:
Arle as Mahti
and
KK as Eleanora and Cara
No tags, just for fun.
Summary:
Day 12, evening
Eleanora and Mahti slip apart from the Prince's entourage to...renew
old acquaintance.
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